My music today is from Karl Jenkins – The Armed Man – incredible music. I am listening to Benedictus. Below is another version.
I am using Prov 4:23 for contemplation: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
My journey began long before lockdown and self isolation. On 11 Feb 2020 I had a knee replacement and was homebound for 2 weeks. I decided to use those two weeks productively. Learning is part of my life. That is what I do. That is what I did.
I downloaded Manifest Goals Using Law of Attraction on mset my phone and set myself some goals.
I also read a lot about Law of Attraction. A lot of what I read or heard sounds like fairy dust to me. At the same time I cannot deny the “My fok Marelize” effect – if you say I must not hit the pole, you probably will! There is something to the self-fulfilling prophesy idea. We tend to create the things we think about. Therefore I am not completely negative about the law of attraction. I just don’t think lying on my back an visualizing winning the Lotto is going to give me the correct numbers. Till Eulenspiegel said “Nobody likes me, but that is how I am.” Our thoughts create things.
When I was about 16 years old, my uncle gave me a copy of Niebuhr’s prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference
It was on my desk even at university. To my shame, I have to admit I only came to understand it a few years ago. I can only change one thing in the whole universe. Just myself. Only myself. That is all. I can try to influence my wife, kids, friends, my domestic worker or gardener. Good luck with that, they are just as influence-able as I am. We only change if we want to. What about the people in Khayalitsha or Europe or Donald Trump? I can only observe. No influence what so ever. They will do whatever they want to do. Even if I think they are wrong or stupid or ignorant. They do not even know who I am and could care less what I think. That is why there is no sense in wasting time or energy worrying about it. In the same way I have no influence on exchange rates or interest rates. I can just adapt to what is happening. I can only change myself. Changing oneself is about changing thoughts, says Romans 12 and thousands of books.
The weekend was very productive. Saturday I attended a Brian Walsh webinar. Brian has improved a lot. He really has. The biggest reason for the improvement, though, was because I was ready for the message! As the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Unfortunately undersea cable problems created internet problems and I could not attend after lunch. What I could attend was really good. John De Martini said an important thing: “The Corona virus is not an obstacle in the way, it is the way.” I will leave that to you.
| Weekend 3 April there are 30 top international speakers at online webinar – free. I will attend as many as possible, especially those about online business. (This is an affiliate link, which means I might make a bit of money should you buy anything) |
Sunday I started posting my journal on Moneyskills4life – a bigger step for me than most people may think. And another contact invited me to an hour long discussion by international sales trainers giving ideas to “covid-proof your business.” Seems this Law of Attraction thing works!
Sunday evening in bed, reflecting on a good day in lockdown, I suddenly realised that there are 3 things that followed me like a shadow since my seventh year.
- Each and every school rapport since 1st grade said the same two things: I am helpful and my handwriting needs improvement (I think I should be a brain surgeon then. Just a joke.)
- Since my university years I always had a “newspaper” of sorts. In Theological Seminary I had Diepseun. An anonymous publication looking at things and commenting in a satyrical manner. National Service with the Navy’s submarines, I had Periscope. Even had a centerpiece. One time it was a picture of people rowing a whaleboat and the heading: “The person rowing the boat does not have time to rock the boat.” Within 30 minutes of distribution Lt D rushed into my office and accused me that it was intended for her. Now why would she think that? In the Ministry I had a quarterly newsletter for the Teens. The parents could not wait to read it.
- People trust me with their secrets (and I am proud to say their secrets are safer with me than money at Fort Knox). People approach me for advice. Like people calling asking what I think they can do during this economic period. People asking business advice. My opinion on things. Or somebody who whatsapped me on Sunday: “You were there for me during my most difficult time.” He made me think about this part of myself. Often people call me wise. I do not think I am wise, but appreciate that others think so. It seems I add value, even if I do not realise it.
I will have to think how I can use these three things in the world after Corona.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.